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Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education
Take Action . . .
One of our principal philosophies at COARE is that everyone has the power to make a difference.
We encourage you to be as involved as possible, and applaud those who chose to take more active roles or work in the field . . . but you can make a difference, now and today, with the following suggestions:
- Never buy products like seashells or dried seastars. These animals are often taken in unsustainable quantities and are killed for ornamental purposes.
- Never buy products that come from endangered or threatened species and tell your family and friends to avoid them as well.
- Avoid food that comes from endangered species, like shark fin or turtle soup.
- Do not patronize any restaurant serving turtle or shark fin soup. On your way out, politely inform the management about your reasons for leaving.
- Avoid eating shrimp – they are fished/farmed in extremely destructive ways.
- If you choose to eat seafood, make selections that are sustainably fished or raised. The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers regional and national Seafood Watch pocket guides.
- Support sustainable businesses and let them know that you appreciate their efforts.
- If you scuba dive or snorkel, seek non-threatening interactions with sharks and other animals. Your tourist dollars help affirm to the local economy the value of living creatures.
- Help dispel common myths about sharks by speaking up when you hear people talking about them in a negative manner.
- Support the listing of sharks in the CITES appendices. Click here for more information.
- Get involved with the historic California Marine Life Protection Act. Click here for more information.
- Use your own mug when buying your morning coffee/tea. This saves natural resources, reduces plastic debris (all those lids!), and keeps your drink warmer!
- When at a bar or restaurant, order your drink without a straw. Plastic straws are not recyclable, are slow to decompose, and often end up as debris in our oceans.
- Tell your friends about COARE.
Copyright ©2006-2008 The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education
